Mental Health Court

KPVI-TV (Pocatello, ID): Local courts are beginning to deal with the problems and needs of criminal defendants who are diagnosed with mental illness. District Judge Ronald Bush says the new mental health court will take people with mental illnesses and keep them out of the normal dockets. That way, participants will be given the chance for proper treatment instead of ending up in local jails and hospitals. Judge Ronald Bush, Sixth Judicial District: "We will have fewer crimes committed by folks that fall into this category. That, in turn, will lead fewer days in the county jail or state penitentiary system. In addition, we hope it will reduce the number of hospitalizations locally."